Christmas Eve

Our Christmas Eve started out with a bang. This morning we all got together to read and act out the Christmas story out of the scriptures. This was a major production, complete with singing hymns and primary songs, reading from the scriptures, and (my favorite) fabulous costumes!

We started out with Samuel the Lamanite - Alec did a fantastic job!!!

And then switched scenes to Mary and Joseph on the way to Bethlehem. Douglas and Nikki played the perfect parents-to-be!

Grandpa was a wonderful angel proclaiming the birth of the Savior. Geoffrey, Danae, and Michelle were awesome shepherds.

Tori stole the show by being the most adorable Baby Jesus!!! Dillon and Taylor were our great (second) Mary and Joseph!And then we had some awesome wise men! I think that Jared was working out some of his pre-production nerves!This really was the most wonderful way to start out our Christmas Eve. It was wonderful having all of the family together and remembering the real reason why we celebrate Christmas!

This picture just had to be posted. The best part is that I don't think Uncle Geoff realized that Kurtis was behind him - he he!!!!As is Allen tradition, we went out to eat at a local Mexican restaurant for lunch. There were so many of us, we went through so many baskets of chips and salsa - it was fantastic! It was so much fun laughing and being together!!!

Dillon loved the food!!!

Tori had a great time getting lots of attention - especially from Grandma and Grandpa!!!
This evening we participated in another great Christmas tradition. We all got to open one gift - our new Christmas pajamas. We did this in my family growing up as well. I don't know why, but going to bed in new Christmas pajamas makes everything even more magical!

Tori's package was almost as big as she is!!!

Here is our family in our new Christmas pjs!

After everyone had gone to bed, Jared, Tori, and I had a little Christmas tradition of our own. In my family we would read the Christmas story in Luke in our new Christmas pajamas as we gathered around our Christmas tree right before we went to bed. It was always so special listening to my dad read while we were sitting in the glow of the Christmas tree lights. So even though we had already read from the scriptures this morning, the three of us gathered by the Christmas tree and once again read of the wonderful events recorded in the scriptures about the Savior's birth. It was a very special way for us to end a fantastic Christmas Eve!

Christmas Traditions

Being in Texas, and sharing in all of the Allen Christmas traditions, has been so much fun! Tori has been adding many new dresses to her collection - Sunday she wore her second Christmas dress to church. I think she really liked it!

Here we are as a family after church!

After church, we were able to have a delicious dinner at G Gpa and G Gma Jones house. After dinner we were able to play Christmas songs with chimes. I have to admit that we weren't so great to start out with. But after a little practice, we were quite the chime choir!!!

Monday night we read a wonderful story about service for Family Home Evening. In the story, the family put one piece of straw into a manger for every act of service they performed for their secret person. The goal was to build a soft manger bed for Baby Jesus to rest in on Christmas day. After reading the story, we all picked names and started our own manger. It has been so fun seeing all of the little acts of service that have been rendered the last few days. I am sure that Baby Jesus is going to have a wonderful manger bed waiting for Him!

Tori has had so much fun examining (and eating) the Christmas ornaments!

Tonight we all decorated gingerbread Christmas trees. It was so much fun seeing the creative juices flow.

Tori didn't seem to be too impressed... 

But we all did have a great time together!!!

Pictures with Santa

Since Santa Clause is extremely busy in December, he needs several helpers to fill in for him every once in a while. We are so lucky that we are related to two of these amazing helpers. It was so great that Tori's first picture with Santa was with her Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Jones (G Gpa and G Gma) - aka Santa and Mrs. Clause. And Tori looked absolutely adorable in her new Christmas dress!!!

Are we there yet?

Knowing that we would be spending Christmas in Texas this year, we decided early on that we would be making a road trip of it. the biggest reason was because we didn't want to get Tori on a plane and have her around a ton of people with colds, coughs, etc. Another bonus with driving is that we could take as much of her baby gear as we wanted. We left Indianapolis bright and early yesterday morning. We made sure to stop every three hours to feed Tori and get her out of her car seat. She was such a trooper and did great being in the car all day, until we hit about 8:00 in the evening - she was definitely done being in her car seat. Tori was really excited for her very first hotel stay!!!

Tori was loving the King size bed!

Here she is telling you about our journey in her own words!!!

We did have a few minor problems with our car along the way. Yesterday, we were out in the middle of nowhere and stopped to get gas. Jared went to open the gas tank and the cover wouldn't open. I must admit that we panicked for a few minutes. Then we took matters into our own hands and broke into our gas tank. Our gas tank now hangs open a little, but at least we can get into it! This morning, as we went to leave, we noticed that someone hit our car in the hotel parking lot over night. It really isn't that bad, but it was a sad find none the less.

The last leg of our journey today took us much longer than expected. It basically rained the whole way. But we finally made it to Spring, TX early this evening. It was so fun for Tori to meet Uncle Dillon, Uncle Alec, Uncle Kurtis, and her soon-to-be Aunt Michelle. We can't wait for her to meet the rest of her Allen family!

Oh, Tori also got to meet two other members of the Allen clan that are right about her size. We aren't exactly sure if she liked meeting Rachel and Rascal or not. It was fun watching her react to them!

Our Indiana Christmas

This year we have the awesome opportunity to spend Christmas with our family in Texas. So we decided that we would have our little family Christmas before we leave. I just have to say that Santa is a really smart guy. He knew we were leaving, so he came a little early too!

Tori was so excited for her first (pseudo) Christmas Eve!

This is how Santa left our house- so much fun!!!

As usual, Jared spoiled me. He gave me a beautiful figurine of a mother cradling her baby- yes, there were tears!

Best of all, Jared made me a New Mom Coupon Book. I now have coupons for massages, date nights, and even a few shopping sprees! Thank you so much honey, it was my most favorite present!!! For the past two years I have been trying to convert Jared into a Colts fan. Nothing worked, until Austin Collie - a BYU graduate - started playing for the Colts this year. Jared is now a Colts fan through and through. I think he was really excited when he opened his new Colts jersey!

Check out my fierce football player!!!

I think I totally surprised Jared with his last gift. He mentioned several months ago that eventually, really far down the road, he would like a nice "teacher" bag. I had so much fun finding one that was perfect for him. Doesn't he look like a real official teacher?!!!

Since Tori is only 4 months old, we weren't sure how much she would get into Christmas, especially the presents. But she had a great time this morning! She even grabbed at the wrapping paper a little.

Thanks for the books Grandma Harrison - we can't wait to read them!!!

Tori loved her new toy from Santa!

Merry Indiana Christmas everyone!

4 Months...

Today is Tori's 4 month birthday! She is getting so big and weighs a whopping 12 lbs!!! Even better then the weight gain is that Tori is right on track for all of her developmental milestones up to this point. According to Dr. Duck Tori is not delayed in any area!!!

Thank you for her outfit Molly - she looks absolutely adorable in it!!!

Figuring Things Out

Over the last few weeks Tori has had another developmental growth spurt. It is amazing how quickly she figures out new things!
Tori can hold up her own bottle! Granted, it is a small bottle, but she is a small girl!

Tori is starting to sit up on the couch, or if we prop her up in a corner, all by herself. She doesn't last very long, but is getting better every day. The cutest thing is that she is still so little and looks even smaller when you see her on the couch.

Since it has gotten cold lately, I have been trying to keep Tori's hands covered so she stays nice and warm. But our smart little cookie has figured out how to get her hands out of her covers. This is how I found her the other day:

I think it is so cute that her little fingers are just barely sticking out!

Tori is starting to discover that toys are fun things to play with. Jared and I were so proud of her when she reached out and actually grabbed at her toys!

Tori has also discovered her hands and loves to chew on them!

Tori has never liked sleeping in her crib. Because of this, we have been lazy and let her continue to sleep in her Pack n Play napper. It was just much easier. But since she is getting older, we knew it was time to make the official move into her crib. After a couple of pretty much sleepless nights, we are happy to announce that Tori is finally sleeping in her crib all night long!!!

Tub Time...

From the very first bath, Tori has loved her tub time. And I think her love of the water is getting stronger and stronger the older she gets. She has recently started to kick and play in the tub. It is so much fun watching how excited she gets - even just from the water getting turned on! I think we may have a little fish on our hands!!!